Suns Make a Bold Move, Land Mark Williams in High-Stakes Trade
Wow, what a night for the Phoenix Suns and a major shake-up for the Charlotte Hornets. In one of the most talked-about moves of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Suns have officially agreed to acquire center Mark Williams from the Hornets. And yes, this is the same Mark Williams who has been on the move more than once in the last few seasons. This trade adds serious size and presence to the Suns' frontcourt and sends a strong signal that Phoenix is not here to mess around next season.
So, here's what went down: Phoenix is sending Vasilije Micić, the 29th overall pick of this year's draft, and a future first-rounder in 2029 (the least favorable among Cleveland, Utah, or Minnesota’s picks) to Charlotte in exchange for the 7-foot big man. Now, Williams is only 23 years old, but he’s already proven his potential—averaging 15.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks last season. That’s a solid double-double on a team that frankly didn’t give him much to work with. The Suns are betting big on his upside, despite his injury history and the fact he’s never played more than 44 games in a season.
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Let’s not ignore the context here. Phoenix has had issues in the paint, even after bringing in Nick Richards last season. They were clearly not done. In the same draft night that they landed Williams, they also picked up 18-year-old Duke phenom Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick—acquired from Houston in the Kevin Durant deal. That’s two big men added in a single night. The message is clear: size and defense are now the top priorities.
What’s interesting is that the Hornets had actually tried to move Williams before—to the Lakers no less—but that fell through because of a failed physical. So, this successful deal with Phoenix gives Charlotte another shot to retool their lineup. They used the No. 29 pick to grab UConn forward Liam McNeely, and they still have Duke’s Kon Knueppel from earlier in the draft. Not a bad haul.
But back to Phoenix—this is a team that just missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, finishing the 2024–25 season at 36-46. They’ve brought in a new head coach, Jordan Ott, and they’re clearly hitting the reset button with purpose. Bringing in a rim protector like Williams, who can also finish efficiently around the basket, might be the defensive anchor they desperately need. Of course, health will be the key here.
Overall, this move changes the landscape for both franchises. For the Suns, it’s a calculated risk with big potential. If Williams can stay healthy and find chemistry with Maluach and the rest of the roster, Phoenix might just have one of the most exciting frontcourts in the league. It’s early, but the rebuild is already looking promising. Let’s see if it pays off.
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